Central African Republic president resigns: statement

N'DJAMENA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Interim President of Central African Republic Michel Djotodia has resigned, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) said in a statement on Friday.

The country's prime minister Nicolas Tiangaye has also resigned, according to the statement, which came after a two-day summit held in Chad where regional leaders urged the transition authorities in Bangui to put in more efforts towards achieving peace.

"If they (the transition authorities) cannot put in more efforts, then they should resign and leave those who are capable of bringing stability to take over in accordance with the transition government," ECCAS secretary general Ahmat Allami told Xinhua on Thursday.

Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno, who chairs the CEEAC, on Thursday night declared to the 135 members of Central African Republic's National Council of Transition (CNT) that member states had no intention of imposing the leaders of Centrafricans.

The members of the CNT (transitional parliament) had been flown in from Bangui on board a flight chartered by the Chadian government.

"Yesterday as today, it is up to you to take the measure for the grave situation of your country and freely choose your leaders through a broad-based consultation as that of tonight to achieve peace and construct together your future," the Chadian president told the CNT members.

He deplored the total chaos and the state of anarchy in Central African Republic.

"The process of transition put in place under the former president (Francois Bozize) and after his departure had not functioned as we hoped. The authorities which have the charge of this transition failed to respond to the expectations of Centrafricans and the international community, of which the most important is order and security," he added.

Back in Bangui of Central African Republic, with the resignation of the former rebel leader, the supporters of the former regime of Francois Bozize rejoiced. On the major arteries of the city, including the avenue of Martyrs which connects downtown to the international airport of Bangui M'Poko, thousands of people came out to express their joy with palms waved in the air.

"We are glad, because the resignation of Michel Djotodia and Prime Minister could be the beginning of a solution to our problem. Because for me, these two figures are the misfortune of the Central African people," one of the people in manifestation told Xinhua.

These manifestations cause traffic disruption in the city. Many shops are closed. The security has been strengthened.

"We just want peace to return to our country," whether it is Michel or another Centralafrican coming, Col. Christian Narkoyo, former military spokesman of Seleka, told Xinhua.

Djotodia headed Seleka to power in March 2013 after toppling the regime of Bozize, who went in exile abroad. Although the ECCAS accepted an 18-month transition under Djotodia, the new government has been grappling with clashes between members of Muslim- dominated Seleka and pro-Bozize Christians.

More than 3,000 people have been killed in the crisis and 1.6 million others displaced as a result of the crisis.

In early December, the UN Security Council authorized the deployment of French and African troops to restore order in the capital Bangui, where more than 1,000 people were killed in December, sparking fears of another genocide in Africa after the 1994 Rwanda massacre.

The country of 4.6 million population has been haunted by instability and poverty since its independence from France in 1960. It is listed by the United Nations as one of the poorest in the world despite its rich resources.